Mississippi State sweeps Ole Miss in baseball rivalry

Bulldogs make history with best SEC start in 23 years under first-year coach

Mar. 30, 2026 at 1:54am

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a college baseball game between two rival teams, with the players and field deconstructed into abstract shapes and planes in the teams' respective colors.A cubist interpretation of the intense rivalry and competitive spirit between Mississippi State and Ole Miss on the college baseball diamond.Oxford Today

The No. 4 Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team swept their in-state rivals, the No. 18 Ole Miss Rebels, in a three-game series at Swayze Field. This marks the third time in the last 23 years that a first-year Mississippi State head coach has defeated Ole Miss, a testament to the program's consistency under new leadership.

Why it matters

The Bulldogs' sweep of the Rebels is a significant accomplishment, as Ole Miss is a perennial powerhouse in the SEC. Mississippi State's strong start to conference play under first-year head coach Brian O'Connor also demonstrates the program's ability to maintain excellence through coaching transitions.

The details

Mississippi State won all three games in the series, improving their overall record to 24-4 and conference record to 7-2. This is the best start to SEC play for the Bulldogs in 23 years. O'Connor, in his first season as head coach, has led the team to continued success against their in-state rival.

  • The three-game series took place from March 24-26, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi.

The players

Brian O'Connor

The first-year head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs baseball team.

Mississippi State Bulldogs

The No. 4 ranked college baseball team that swept their in-state rivals, the Ole Miss Rebels, in a three-game series.

Ole Miss Rebels

The No. 18 ranked college baseball team that was swept by their in-state rivals, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, in a three-game series.

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What they’re saying

“What I take away from it is that we're consistent,”

— Brian O'Connor, Head Coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs

The takeaway

Mississippi State's sweep of Ole Miss demonstrates the program's ability to maintain excellence through coaching changes, as a first-year head coach has now led the Bulldogs to victory over their in-state rivals three times in the last 23 years. This strong start to SEC play positions the Bulldogs as a top contender in the conference this season.